Explanations [[electronic resource] ] : styles of explanation in science / / edited by John Cornwell

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910825078003321
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Oxford, : Oxford University Press, 2004
• ISBN: 1-383-03125-8; 0-19-164743-8; 1-280-69885-3; 9786613675811; 0-19-154733-6
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (265 p.)
• Altri autori (Persone): CornwellJohn <1940->
• Disciplina: 121/.6
• Soggetti: Explanation
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Cover; Contents; List of contributors; Introduction; 1 What good is an explanation?; 2 Can science explain everything? Can science explain anything?; 3 Explaining the universe; 4 Does physics rule the roost of scientific explanation?; 5 Mathematical explanation; 6 Ponderable matter: explanation in chemistry; 7 The biology of the future and the future of biology; 8 Teleology: the explanation that bedevils biology; 9 What is it not like to be a brain?; 10 Ontology and scientific explanation; 11 From explanation to interpretation in social anthropology; 12 Passing it on: redescribing scientific explanationIndex; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; Y; Z
• Sommario/riassunto: Our lives, states of health, relationships, behaviour, experiences of the natural world, and the technologies that shape our contemporary existence are subject to a superfluity of competing, multi-faceted and sometimes incompatible explanations. Widespread confusion about the nature of 'explanation' and its scope and limits pervades popular exposition of the natural sciences, popular history and philosophy of science. This fascinating and intriguing book explores the wayexplanations work, why they vary between disciplines, periods, and ; cultures, and whether they have any necessary boundaries.